Touch control device and method

ABSTRACT

A method for controlling a touch control device includes defining a first area and a second area on a touchpad, detecting whether a touched position on the touchpad that is touched by an operating object falls in the first area or the second area, and calculating the corresponding on-screen coordinates of the operating object with different sets of ratios depending on the touched position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional applicationfiled on Nov. 11, 2011 and having application Ser. No. 61/558,457, theentire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference

This application is based upon and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119from Taiwan Patent Application No. 101102526 filed Jan. 20, 2012, whichis hereby specifically incorporated herein by this reference thereto.

This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent applicationfiled on Jul. 5, 2012 and having application Ser. No. 13/542,592, theentire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is related generally to a touch control deviceand, more particularly, to a touch control device and a control methodthereof so that, when a touchpad is touched by an operating object, thecorresponding coordinates of the operating object on a screen can beobtained by calculating with different sets of ratios depending on thetouched position on the touchpad.

2. Description of the Prior Arts

With the continuous improvement of touch control technology, touchcontrol operation is applicable not only to the small touch screens ofthe conventional touch-screen mobile devices such as mobile phones andsatellite-based navigation devices, but also to operating systems thatprovide multi-touch functions, such as Microsoft's Windows 7 and Windows8 and Apple Inc.'s iPhone OS. Thus, the touch control operationenvironment has extended from portable devices to desktop devices,allowing users to perform various operations directly on large touchscreens.

Nowadays, the development of operating systems supporting touch controloperation has gradually matured, and yet large touch screens aredisadvantaged by high costs and by the limitation that users must bewithin a very short distance from the screens in order to exercise touchcontrol. Therefore, touch control devices other than touch screens(e.g., touchpads) have been devised for touch control operation. Thesetouch control devices, however, are typically designed only forcontrolling the cursor on a screen and are intended mainly as asubstitute for the existing cursor controllers such as external mice ortrackballs. In contrast to touch screens, which can be used to giveactuation instructions directly by a finger touch on the screens, theaforesaid touch control devices provide no such a function when touchedby a user's finger. Hence, a touch control device capable of simulatingthe effect of a finger touch on a touch screen is desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a touch controldevice and a control method thereof so that, when a touchpad is touchedby an operating object, the corresponding coordinates of the operatingobject on a screen can be obtained by calculating with different sets ofratios depending on the touched position on the touchpad.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a touch controldevice and a control method thereof so that instruction windows can beopened according to the movement of an operating object.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a touchcontrol device and a control method thereof so that differentinstructions can be executed according to the touch control action of anoperating object on a touchpad.

To achieve the above and other objects, the present invention provides atouch control device including an input element and a computation unit.The input element has a touchpad and a control unit. The touchpadincludes a first area and a second area. The control unit is connectedto the touchpad and is configured for detecting the coordinates of anoperating object on the touchpad. The computation unit is connected tothe control unit. If the touch by the operating object starts in thefirst area, the computation unit calculates the correspondingcoordinates of the operating object on a screen according to thecoordinates of the operating object on the touchpad and a first set ofratios. If the touch by the operating object starts in the second area,the computation unit calculates the corresponding coordinates of theoperating object on the screen according to the coordinates of theoperating object on the touchpad and a second set of ratios.

The present invention also provides a method for controlling a touchcontrol device, and the method is carried out as follows. To begin with,a first area and a second area are defined on a touchpad. Then, it isdetermined whether a touch by an operating object starts in the firstarea or the second area. If the touch by the operating object starts inthe first area, the corresponding coordinates of the operating object ona screen are calculated according to the coordinates of the operatingobject on the touchpad and a first set of ratios. If the touch by theoperating object starts in the second area, the correspondingcoordinates of the operating object on the screen are calculatedaccording to the coordinates of the operating object on the touchpad anda second set of ratios.

The present invention also provides a touch control device including aninput element and a computation unit. The input element has a touchpadand a control unit. The touchpad includes a first area and a secondarea, wherein the first area is a peripheral area of the touchpad. Thecontrol unit is connected to the touchpad and is configured fordetecting the movement of an operating object on the touchpad. Thecomputation unit is connected to the control unit. If the computationunit determines that the operating object has moved on the touchpad fromthe first area toward the second area, an instruction window is openedon a screen according to the movement of the operating object.

The present invention also provides a method for controlling a touchcontrol device, and the method is carried out as follows. To begin with,a first area and a second area are defined on a touchpad, wherein thefirst area is a peripheral area of the touchpad. Then, the movement ofan operating object on the touchpad is detected, and it is determinedwhether the operating object has moved on the touchpad from the firstarea toward the second area. If the operating object has moved on thetouchpad from the first area toward the second area, an instructionwindow is opened on a screen according to the movement of the operatingobject.

The present invention also provides a method for controlling a touchcontrol device, and the method includes determining the number ofoperating objects on a touchpad and determining the number ofinstruction items of an application program that is currently running.If the number of operating objects on the touchpad is greater than oneand if the number of instruction items of the application program isgreater than one, a virtual frame is defined on a screen. Thecorresponding coordinates of the operating objects in the virtual frameare calculated according to the coordinates of the operating objects onthe touchpad and a set of ratios.

The present invention also provides a method for controlling a touchcontrol device, and the method includes determining the number ofoperating objects on a touchpad. If there is only one operating object,it is then determined whether the operating object has double-clickedthe touchpad. If the operating object has double-clicked the touchpad, avirtual touch control element is generated on a screen, and it isdetected whether the operating object has displaced on the touchpad. Ifthe operating object has displaced on the touchpad, a window pageswitching instruction is executed.

The present invention also provides a method for controlling a touchcontrol device, and the method includes determining the number ofoperating objects on a touchpad. If there is only one operating object,it is then determined whether the operating object has performed a touchcontrol action on the touchpad. If the operating object has performed atouch control action on the touchpad, a control window frame is definedon a screen, and the corresponding coordinates of the operating objectin the control window frame are calculated according to the coordinatesof the operating object on the touchpad and a set of ratios.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent to those skilled in the art uponconsideration of the following description of the preferred embodimentsof the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a system structure diagram of the touch control device in thefirst embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is another system structure diagram of the touch control devicein the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 schematically shows how in the first embodiment of the presentinvention the corresponding coordinate position of an operating objecton a screen is calculated according to a width ratio and a height ratiobetween the screen and a touchpad;

FIG. 4 schematically shows how in the first embodiment of the presentinvention the corresponding coordinate position of an operating objecton a screen is calculated according to a width ratio and a height ratiobetween a control window frame and a touchpad;

FIG. 5 schematically shows how in the first embodiment of the presentinvention a touchpad is proportionally mapped onto a screen according tothe condition of multiple operating objects on the touchpad;

FIG. 6 schematically shows how in the first embodiment of the presentinvention a virtual frame corresponding to a touchpad is mapped onto ascreen according to the condition of multiple operating objects on thetouchpad;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the control method in the first embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 8 is a system structure diagram of the touch control device in thesecond embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 schematically shows how in the second embodiment of the presentinvention an instruction window is opened on a screen by moving anoperating object;

FIG. 10 schematically shows how in the second embodiment of the presentinvention an operating object operates an instruction window through avirtual instruction area;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of the control method in the second embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 12 schematically shows how in the third embodiment of the presentinvention the corresponding coordinates of an operating object on ascreen are calculated according to a width ratio and a height ratiobetween a control window frame and a touchpad;

FIG. 13 schematically shows how in the third embodiment of the presentinvention a graphical item is dragged on a screen by moving an operatingobject;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of the control method in the third embodiment ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention mainly provides a touch control device for usewith an operating system that supports touch control operation, such asWindows 7, Windows 8, and iPhone OS, so as to enable intuitive operationsimilar to what is achievable by touching a touch screen with a finger.The touch control device of the present invention can be a built-in orexternal touch control device. In the former case, the built-in touchcontrol device is applicable to the touchpad of a laptop computer or atransformable tablet computer (e.g., the Transformer-series tabletcomputers of ASUSTeK Computer Inc.); in the latter case, the externaltouch control device can be designed as one connectable to a computerdevice via a wired or wireless transmission interface (e.g., USB, PS2,infrared, or Bluetooth), such as an external touchpad, a mouse with atouchpad, a controller with a touchpad, a keyboard with a touchpad, or atouch keyboard with a touchpad.

FIG. 1 shows the touch control device in the first embodiment, whereinthe touch control device includes an input element 1 and a computationunit 2. The input element 1 has a touchpad 11 and a control unit 12. Thetouchpad 11 is provided with a plurality of sensing elements (not shown)for detecting whether the touchpad 11 is in contact with an operatingobject 9. The sensing elements generate a detection signal T1 accordingto the position of the operating object 9. The touchpad 11 serves as adynamic information input end of the input element 1 so that a user cangive instructions and control a cursor by moving the operating object 9on the touchpad 11. The touchpad 11 at least has one first area 111 andone second area 112 defined thereon. The first area 111 and the secondarea 112 can be defined anywhere on the touchpad 11 as needed. In FIG.1, the first area 111 is defined in a peripheral area of the touchpad11, and the second area 112 is defined in a central area of the touchpad11 and surrounded by the first area 111. The control unit 12 iselectrically connected to the sensing elements and the computation unit2 and is configured for receiving the detection signal T1 and convertingthe detection signal T1 into information T2 related to the coordinatesof the operating object 9 on the touchpad 11 (hereinafter referred to asthe coordinate information T2). The computation unit 2 is installedunder the operating system 3 of a computer device and is configured forconverting the coordinate information T2 into information T3 related tothe corresponding coordinates of the operating object 9 on a screen 4(hereinafter referred to as the coordinate information T3) anddelivering the coordinate information T3 to the operating system 3. FIG.2 schematically shows the process flow of the aforesaid touch controldevice during use. The control unit 12 and the computation unit 2 areincluded in a firmware process 7 and are in charge of coordinateconversion, mode determination, and control. Upon completing thefirmware process, the touch control device sends a message to theoperating system 3 so that output information is transmitted to thescreen 4 through a driver algorithm 8 in the operating system 3.

FIG. 3 schematically shows how the corresponding coordinates of theoperating object 9 on the screen 4 are calculated according to a widthratio and a height ratio between the screen 4 and the touchpad 11. If auser's finger (hereinafter referred to as the operating object 9)touches the touchpad 11 and the touch starts in the first area 111 ofthe touch pad 11, the control unit 12 sends the coordinate informationT2 of the operating object 9 to the computation unit 2. Based on thecoordinates (Xf1, Yf1) of the operating object 9 on the touchpad 11 anda first set of ratios, the computation unit 2 calculates thecorresponding coordinates (Xc1, Yc1) of the operating object 9 on thescreen 4 and generates a virtual touch control element 9′ on the screen4 accordingly, wherein the virtual touch control element 9′ changes itscoordinate position on the screen 4 in response to the movement of theoperating object 9 on the touchpad 11. The user can exercise control orexecute instructions via the position and displacement of the operatingobject 9 on the touchpad 11.

FIG. 4 schematically shows how the corresponding coordinates of theoperating object 9 on the screen 4 are calculated according to a widthratio and a height ratio between a control window frame 5 and thetouchpad 11. If the touch on the touchpad 11 by the operating object 9starts in the second area 112, the control unit 12 sends the coordinateinformation T2 of the operating object 9 to the computation unit 2.Based on the coordinates (Xf2, Yf2) of the operating object 9 on thetouchpad 11 and a second set of ratios, the computation unit 2calculates the corresponding coordinates (Xc2, Yc2) of the operatingobject 9 in the control window frame 5. In addition, the computationunit 2 uses the last position of a cursor 9″ on the screen 4 as thereference coordinate position and defines the control window frame 5 onthe screen 4 according to the reference coordinate position.Consequently, the coordinates (Xc2, Yc2) in the control window frame 5correspond to the reference coordinate position, and the cursor 9″ isdisplayed at the coordinates (Xc2, Yc2) in the control window frame 5.By moving the operating object 9 on the touchpad 11, the user can changethe coordinate position of the cursor 9″ on the screen 4 and thuscontrol the cursor 9″.

The computation unit 2 in FIG. 1 further includes an applicationsoftware detection tool 21 for determining the number of instructionitems of an application software that is currently running. FIG. 5schematically shows how the touchpad 11 is proportionally mapped ontothe screen 4 according to the condition of multiple operating objects onthe touchpad 11. When the touchpad 11 is touched by multiple operatingobjects 9 a and 9 b, the application software detection tool 21 of thecomputation unit 2 determines whether the number of instruction items 23of the currently running application software is greater than one,wherein the instruction items 23 can be graphical items, folders, and soon. If there is only one instruction item 23, the computation unit 2calculates the corresponding coordinates (Xc3, Yc3) and (Xc3′, Yc3′) ofthe operating objects 9 a and 9 b on the screen 4 according to thecoordinates (Xf3, Yf3) and (Xf3′, Yf3′) of the operating objects 9 a and9 b on the touchpad 11 and the first set of ratios and generates virtualtouch control elements 9 a′ and 9 b′ on the screen 4 accordingly.Referring to FIG. 6, if there are plural instruction items 23, thecomputation unit 2 defines a virtual frame 6 on the screen 4, whereinthe virtual frame 6 corresponds in position to one of the instructionitems 23. Then, based on the coordinates (Xf4, Yf4) and (Xf4′, Yf4′) ofthe operating objects 9 a and 9 b on the touchpad 11 and a third set ofratios, the computation unit 2 calculates the corresponding coordinates(Xc4, Yc4) and (Xc4′, Yc4′) of the operating objects 9 a and 9 b in thevirtual frame 6 and generates the virtual touch control elements 9 a′and 9 b′ in the virtual frame 6 accordingly. Thus, the user can operatethe instruction item 23 by finger actions on the touchpad 11.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the control method in the embodiment shown inFIGS. 3 to 6. In the first step S12, it is detected whether the touchpad11 is touched by an operating object 9. If yes, the sensing elementsgenerate the analog detection signal T1 according to the position of theoperating object 9 on the touchpad 11. The control unit 12 converts thedetection signal T1 into the coordinate information T2, which is relatedto the coordinates of the operating object 9 on the touchpad 11 and issent by the control unit 12 to the computation unit 2. In step S14, thecomputation unit 2 determines according to the coordinate information T2whether the number of the operating object(s) 9 is greater than one. Ifno, the computation unit 2 determines that there is only one operatingobject 9 on the touchpad 11, and the process goes on to step S16. Instep S16, the computation unit 2 determines according to the coordinateinformation T2 whether the touch on the touchpad 11 by the operatingobject 9 starts in the first area 111 or the second area 112. If thetouch by the operating object 9 starts in the first area 111, step S18is executed. When necessary, the determination process in step S16 maybe carried out by the control unit 12 instead, before step S18 isexecuted.

Referring to FIG. 7 in conjunction with FIG. 3, step S18 involvescomputation by the computation unit 2 according to the coordinates (Xf1,Yf1) of the operating object 9 on the touchpad 11 and the first set ofratios, wherein the first set of ratios are the width ratio

$\frac{H_{screen}}{H_{device}}$

and the height ratio

$\frac{V_{screen}}{V_{device}}$

between the screen 4 and the touchpad 11. The corresponding coordinates(Xc1, Yc1) of the operating object 9 on the screen 4 are calculated fromthe coordinates (Xf1, Yf1) of the operating object 9 on the touchpad 11by the computation unit 2 as

$\begin{matrix}{{H_{c\; 1} = {\frac{H_{screen}}{H_{device}} \times X_{f\; 1}}},{Y_{c\; 1} = {\frac{V_{screen}}{V_{device}} \times {Y_{f\; 1}.}}}} & \left\lbrack {{Eq}\text{-}1} \right\rbrack\end{matrix}$

Once the calculation of the above coordinate information T3 iscompleted, the computation unit 2 sends the coordinate information T3 tothe operating system 3 and generates the virtual touch control element9′ on the screen 4 accordingly. The virtual touch control element 9′ canbe displayed on the screen 4 or hidden from view as needed. When theoperating object 9 slides on the touchpad 11, the virtual touch controlelement 9′ changes its coordinate position on the screen 4 in responseto the movement of the operating object 9 (see FIG. 3). This allows theuser to control instructions by touching the touchpad 11 with theoperating object 9 and by moving the operating object 9 on the touchpad11.

Referring to FIG. 7 in conjunction with FIG. 4, step S20 is executed ifit is determined in step S16 that the touch by the operating object 9starts in the second area 112. In step S20, the control window frame 5is defined on the screen 4. The shape and area of the control windowframe 5 can be the same as or be scaled up or down from those of thetouchpad 11 respectively. More specifically, the computation unit 2performs computation based on the coordinates (Xf2, Yf2) of theoperating object 9 on the touchpad 11 and the second set of ratios. Thewidth-height ratio of the control window frame 5 is defined in advance,and the second set of ratios are the width ratio

$\frac{H_{{frame}\; 1}}{H_{device}}$

and the height ratio

$\frac{V_{{frame}\; 1}}{V_{device}}$

between the control window frame 5 and the touchpad 11. Thecorresponding coordinates (Xc2, Yc2) of the operating object 9 in thecontrol window frame 5 are calculated from the coordinates (Xf2, Yf2) ofthe operating object 9 on the touchpad 11 by the computation unit 2 as

$\begin{matrix}{{X_{c\; 2} = {\frac{H_{{frame}\; 1}}{H_{device}} \times X_{f\; 2}}},{Y_{c\; 2} = {\frac{V_{{frame}\; 1}}{V_{device}} \times {Y_{f\; 2}.}}}} & \left\lbrack {{Eq}\text{-}2} \right\rbrack\end{matrix}$

Upon completing the calculation of the foregoing coordinate informationT3, the computation unit 2 transmits the coordinate information T3 tothe operating system 3 and, using the last position of the virtual touchcontrol element 9′ or the cursor 9″ on the screen 4 as the referencecoordinate position, maps the coordinates (Xc2, Yc2) in the controlwindow frame 5 to the reference coordinate position, thereby definingthe position of the control window frame 5 on the screen 4. As a result,the cursor 9″ is displayed at the coordinates (Xc2, Yc2) in the controlwindow frame 5.

The user can change the coordinate position of the cursor 9″ by movingthe operating object 9. In addition, the control window frame 5 can bedisplayed on the screen 4 or hidden from view as desired. Displaying thecontrol window frame 5 on the screen 4 allows the user to know thecurrent position of the control window frame 5; however, as the userneed not know the position of the control window frame 5 duringoperation, the user may choose to hide the control window frame 5 ordisplay it in a flashing manner.

Referring to FIG. 7 in conjunction with FIG. 5, step S22 is carried outif it is determined in step S14 that there are multiple operatingobjects 9 a and 9 b on the touchpad 11. In step S22, the applicationsoftware detection tool 21 determines the number of instruction items 23of the currently running application software. The instruction items 23in this embodiment are the graphical items shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Ifthere is only one instruction item 23, the process moves on to step S24.In step S24, the computation unit 2 calculates the correspondingcoordinates (Xc3, Yc3) and (Xc3′, Yc3′) of the operating objects 9 a and9 b on the screen 4 according to the coordinates (Xf3, Yf3) and (Xf3′,Yf3′) of the operating objects 9 a and 9 b on the touchpad 11 and thefirst set of ratios (see Eq-1). Thus, the virtual touch control elements9 a′ and 9 b′ are generated on the screen 4, allowing the user tooperate the single instruction item 23 of the application softwareintuitively via the multiple operating objects on the touchpad 11.

Referring to FIG. 7 in conjunction with FIG. 6, step S26 is executed ifit is determined in step S22 that there are multiple instruction items23. In step S26, the virtual frame 6 is defined on the screen 4, usingthe positions of the virtual touch control elements 9 a′ and 9 b′ on thescreen 4 as the reference points. More particularly, the center point orone of the end points of the virtual frame 6 is mapped to the referencepoint such that the virtual frame 6 corresponds in position to one ofthe instruction items 23 of the application program. Preferably, theshape and area of the virtual frame 6 are the same as those of thetouchpad 11 respectively, or the area of the virtual frame 6 is scaledup or down from the area of the touchpad 11 according to the area of theinstruction item 23. Following that, the computation unit 2 performscomputation based on the coordinates (Xf4, Yf4) and (Xf4′, Yf4′) of theoperating objects 9 a and 9 b on the touchpad 11 and the third set ofratios, wherein the third set of ratios are the width ratio

$\frac{H_{{frame}\; 2}}{H_{device}}$

and the height ratio

$\frac{V_{{frame}\; 2}}{V_{device}}$

between the virtual frame 6 and the touchpad 11. The correspondingcoordinates (Xc4, Yc4) of the operating object 9 a in the virtual frame6 are calculated from the coordinates (Xf4, Yf4) of the operating object9 a on the touchpad 11 by the computation unit 2 as

$\begin{matrix}{{X_{c\; 4} = {\frac{H_{{frame}\; 2}}{H_{device}} \times X_{f\; 4}}},{Y_{c\; 4} = {\frac{V_{{frame}\; 2}}{V_{device}} \times {Y_{f\; 4}.}}}} & \left\lbrack {{Eq}\text{-}3} \right\rbrack\end{matrix}$

A similar calculation is performed for the operating object 9 b. Uponcompleting the calculation of the above coordinate information T3, thecomputation unit 2 sends the coordinate information T3 to the operatingsystem 3. Accordingly, the virtual touch control elements 9 a′ and 9 b′are generated in the virtual frame 6, allowing the user to operate theone instruction item 23 of the application program intuitively by meansof the multiple operating objects on the touchpad 11.

Moreover, the virtual frame 6 can be displayed on the screen 4 or hiddenfrom view as needed. Displaying the virtual frame 6 on the screen 4allows the user to know the current position of the virtual frame 6, andyet it is not necessary for the user to know such information duringoperation. Hence, the user may choose to hide the virtual frame 6 ordisplay it in a flashing manner.

In addition, if the operating object 9 leaves the touchpad 11 uponcompletion of step S18, S20, S24, or S26, the process returns to stepS12 to detect whether the touchpad 11 is touched by an operating object9.

Referring to FIGS. 8 to 10, the touch control device in the secondembodiment of the present invention has substantially the sameconstruction as its counterpart in the first embodiment except that thefirst area 111 of the touchpad 11 corresponds to an instruction window W(e.g., a toolbar in the Windows system) at the right edge of the screen4 and is defined at the right edge of the touchpad 11. The instructionwindow W can disappear into the right edge of the screen 4. Besides, thetouchpad 11 defines a virtual instruction area 113. Preferably, thevirtual instruction area 113 is defined in an area of the touchpad 11that corresponds in position to the instruction window W, and at leasttwo borders of the virtual instruction area 113 coincide with borders ofthe touchpad 11 respectively. In this embodiment, the first area 111coincides with the virtual instruction area 113 in range. Furthermore,the computation unit 2 includes an event receiver 22 for receiving anevent signal T4 from the operating system 3.

FIG. 9 schematically shows how the instruction window W is opened bymoving an operating object. When the touchpad 11 is touched by theuser's finger (hereinafter referred to as the operating object 9) insuch a way that the touch starts in the first area 111 of the touchpad11 and the operating object 9 moves from the first area 111 toward thesecond area 112, the virtual touch control element 9′ drags theinstruction window W, which has disappeared into the right edge of thescreen 4, toward the center of the screen 4 in response to the movementof the operating object 9. Consequently, the instruction window W isopened and displayed on the screen 4. The touchpad 11 at this momentdefines the virtual instruction area 113 (see FIG. 10) according to theposition of the instruction window W, so as for the user to operate theinstruction window W intuitively through the virtual instruction area113.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of the control method in the embodiment shown inFIGS. 9 and 10. Steps S12, S14, S16, and S18 in FIG. 11 are the same asthose in the previous embodiment and involve determining whether thetouch by the operating object 9 starts in the first area 111 andgenerating the virtual touch control element 9′ on the screen 4. Then,in step S28, the computation unit 2 determines whether the operatingobject 9 has moved from the first area 111 toward the second area 112;if yes, step S30 is performed. In addition, upon completing thedetermination process of step S28, the first area 111 and the secondarea 112 defined on the touchpad 11 are temporarily canceled tofacilitate the execution of subsequent steps. In step S30, theinstruction window W is opened according to the movement of theoperating object 9. Meanwhile, the operating system 3 generates theevent signal T4 according to the event instruction being executed andsends the event signal T4 to the event receiver 22. In the followingstep S32, the computation unit 2 defines the virtual instruction area113 on the touchpad 11 according to the event signal T4 and performscomputation based on the coordinates (Xf5, Yf5) of the operating object9 on the touchpad 11 and a fourth set of ratios, wherein the fourth setof ratios are the width ratio

$\frac{H_{window}}{H_{area}}$

and the height ratio

$\frac{V_{window}}{V_{area}}$

between the instruction window W and the virtual instruction area 113.The corresponding coordinates (Xc5, Yc5) of the operating object 9 ininstruction window W are calculated from the coordinates (Xf5, Yf5) ofthe operating object 9 in the virtual instruction area 113 by thecomputation unit 2 as

$\begin{matrix}{{X_{c\; 5} = {\frac{H_{window}}{H_{area}} \times X_{f\; 5}}},{Y_{c\; 5} = {\frac{V_{window}}{V_{area}} \times {Y_{f\; 5}.}}}} & \left\lbrack {{Eq}\text{-}4} \right\rbrack\end{matrix}$

After the calculation of the foregoing coordinate information T3 iscompleted, the computation unit 2 sends the coordinate information T3 tothe operating system 3. Hence, by operating the operating object 9 inthe virtual instruction area 113, the user can execute instructions inthe instruction window W or perform other actions.

In a different aspect, once the instruction window W is opened in stepS30, the user's finger may leave the touchpad 11 and then touch thesecond area 112 of the touchpad 11. In that case, the computation unit 2will cancel the virtual instruction area 113 on the touchpad 11 andgenerates the cursor 9″ on the screen 4 through the foregoing steps S12,S14, S16, and S20. The user may move the cursor 9″ to the instructionwindow W and click any instruction key in the instruction window W toexecute the desired instruction or application program.

FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate the control method in the third embodiment ofthe present invention. As the coordinate information T2 generated by thecontrol unit 12 contains the position and time information of eachtouched point on the touchpad 11 that is touched by the operating object9, the coordinate information T2 can be used to determine the variousactions of the operating object 9 on the touchpad 11. In thisembodiment, the touch control actions include double-clicking thetouchpad 11. By “double-clicking”, it is meant that the operating object9 touches the touchpad 11, leaves the touchpad 11 within a firstpredetermined time Ta, and touches the touchpad 11 again within a secondpredetermined time Tb, wherein the distance Δd between the two touchedpoints is less than a threshold value D. When it is determined that thetouch control action performed by the operating object 9 isdouble-clicking the touchpad 11, the computation unit 2 calculates thecorresponding coordinates (Xc5, Yc5) of the operating object 9 in thecontrol window frame 5 according to the coordinates (Xf5, Yf5) of theoperating object 9 on the touchpad 11 and the second set of ratios.Also, using the last position of the previous cursor 9″ on the screen 4as the reference coordinate position, the computation unit 2 defines thecontrol window frame 5 on the screen 4 so as to generate the virtualtouch control element 9′ in the control window frame 5 accordingly.After double-clicking, the operating object 9 can be moved on thetouchpad 11 so that the virtual touch control element 9′ generated bydouble-clicking drags an instruction item 23 on the screen 4 (see FIG.13), switches window pages, or executes other instructions.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of the control method in the embodiment shown inFIGS. 12 and 13. To begin with, it is detected in step S12 whether thetouchpad 11 is touched by an operating object 9. If yes, it isdetermined in step S14 whether the number of the operating object 9 isgreater than one. If there is only one operating object 9, step S151 isperformed in which the time Δt1 for which the operating object 9 touchesthe touchpad 11 is counted. It is also determined whether the operatingobject 9 has left the touchpad 11. In step S152, it is determined bycomparison whether Δt1 is less than the first predetermined time Ta. IfΔt1 is less than the first predetermined time Ta, the time Δt2 for whichthe operating object 9 has left the touchpad 11 is counted in step S153.It is also determined whether the operating object 9 has touched thetouchpad 11 again. If the operating object 9 has touched the touchpad 11again, it is determined in step S154 by comparison whether Δt2 is lessthan the second predetermined time Tb. If Δt2 is less than the secondpredetermined time Tb, it is determined in step S155 whether thedistance Δd between the aforesaid two touched points is less than thethreshold value D. If Δd<D, it is determined that the touch controlaction performed by the operating object 9 is double-clicking, and theprocess goes on to step S156.

In step S156, the computation unit 2 calculates the correspondingcoordinates (Xc5, Yc5) of the operating object 9 in the control windowframe 5 according to the second set of ratios as well as the coordinates(Xf5, Yf5) of the operating object 9 that correspond to the operatingobject 9's second touch on the touchpad 11. The second set of ratioshave been described in the previous embodiments and therefore are notrepeated here. Upon completing the calculation of the foregoingcoordinate information T3, the computation unit 2 sends the coordinateinformation T3 to the operating system 3 and, using as the referencecoordinate position the position of the virtual touch control element 9′or cursor 9″ last appearing on the screen 4, maps the coordinates (Xc5,Yc5) in the control window frame 5 onto the reference coordinateposition, thereby defining the position of the control window frame 5 onthe screen 4. Then, the virtual touch control element 9′ is generated atthe coordinates (Xc5, Yc5) in the control window frame 5.

After the virtual touch control element 9′ is generated, it is detectedin step S158 whether the operating object 9 has displaced on thetouchpad 11. If the operating object 9 has displaced on the touchpad 11,it is also determined whether the displacement Δm of the operatingobject 9 is greater than a preset value M. If Δm>M, the virtual touchcontrol element 9′ executes the instruction of window page switchingaccording to the displacement direction of the operating object 9.

What is claimed is:
 1. A touch control device, comprising: an inputelement having a touchpad and a control unit, the touchpad comprising afirst area and a second area, the first area being a peripheral area ofthe touchpad, the control unit being connected to the touchpad andconfigured for detecting a touch on the touchpad by an operating objectand a movement of the operating object on the touchpad; and acomputation unit connected to the control unit, wherein if thecomputation unit determines that the operating object has moved from thefirst area toward the second area, an instruction window is opened on ascreen.
 2. The touch control device of claim 1, wherein the touchpadgenerates a detection signal in response to the touch by the operatingobject and sends the detection signal to the control unit, and thecontrol unit generates coordinates of the operating object on thetouchpad according to the detection signal.
 3. The touch control deviceof claim 2, wherein the control unit determines according to thedetection signal whether the touch on the touchpad by the operatingobject starts in the first area or the second area.
 4. The touch controldevice of claim 2, wherein the computation unit determines according tocoordinates output from the control unit whether the touch on thetouchpad by the operating object starts in the first area or the secondarea.
 5. The touch control device of claim 1, wherein the second area isdefined in a central area of the touchpad and surrounded by the firstarea.
 6. The touch control device of claim 1, wherein the computationunit is connected to an operating system and is provided with an eventreceiver for receiving an event signal from the operating system.
 7. Amethod for controlling a touch control device including a touchpadhaving a first area and a second area, the first area being a peripheralarea of the touchpad, the method comprising steps of: A.) detecting atouch on the touchpad by an operating object and a movement of theoperating object on the touchpad; B.) determining whether the operatingobject has moved from the first area toward the second area; and C.)opening an instruction window on a screen according to the movement ofthe operating object, if the operating object has moved from the firstarea toward the second area.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the stepA comprises steps of: generating a detection signal in response to thetouch on the touchpad by the operating object; and generating firstcoordinates according to the detection signal.
 9. The method of claim 8,wherein the step A comprises a step of determining according to thedetection signal whether the touch on the touchpad by the operatingobject starts in the first area or the second area.
 10. The method ofclaim 8, wherein the step A comprises a step of determining whether thetouch by the operating object starts in the first area or the secondarea according to coordinates provided by a control unit.
 11. The methodof claim 7, further comprising a step of calculating correspondingcoordinates of the operating object on the screen according tocoordinates of the operating object on the touchpad and a width ratioand a height ratio between the screen and the touchpad if the touch bythe operating object starts in the first area.
 12. The method of claim7, wherein the second area is defined in a central area of the touchpadand surrounded by the first area.
 13. The method of claim 7, furthercomprising a step of defining a virtual instruction area on the touchpadaccording to a position of the instruction window on the screen afterthe instruction window is opened.
 14. The method of claim 13, whereinthe virtual instruction area is defined in the peripheral area of thetouchpad and has at least two borders coinciding respectively withborders of the touchpad.
 15. The method of claim 13, further comprisinga step of calculating corresponding coordinates of the operating objectin the instruction window according to coordinates of the operatingobject in the virtual instruction area and a width ratio and a heightratio between the instruction window and the virtual instruction area.16. The method of claim 7, further comprising a step of defining a thirdarea corresponding to the instruction window on the touchpad after theinstruction window is opened.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein thethird area is defined in a peripheral area of the touchpad and has atleast two borders coinciding respectively with borders of the touchpad.18. The method of claim 16, further comprising a step of calculatingcorresponding coordinates of the operating object in the instructionwindow according to coordinates of the operating object in the thirdarea and a width ratio and a height ratio between the instruction windowand the third area.
 19. A method for controlling a touch control device,comprising steps of: A) determining the number of operating objects on atouchpad; B) determining, if there is one and only one said operatingobject, whether the operating object has double-clicked the touchpad; C)detecting, if the operating object has double-clicked the touchpad,whether the operating object has displaced on the touchpad; and D)executing a window page switching instruction if the operating objecthas displaced on the touchpad.
 20. The method of claim 19, furthercomprising a step of defining a control window frame on a screen andcalculating corresponding first coordinates of the operating object inthe control window frame according to coordinates of the operatingobject on the touchpad and a second set of ratios if the operatingobject has double-clicked the touchpad.
 21. The method of claim 20,further comprising a step of generating a virtual touch control elementat the first coordinates if the operating object has double-clicked thetouchpad.
 22. The method of claim 20, wherein the second set of ratiosare a width ratio and a height ratio between the control window frameand the touchpad.
 23. The method of claim 20, further comprising a stepof using a position of a virtual touch control element or cursor lastappearing on the screen as a reference coordinate position and mappingthe first coordinates in the control window frame to the referencecoordinate position so as to define a position of the control windowframe on the screen.
 24. A method for controlling a touch controldevice, comprising steps of: determining the number of operating objectson a touchpad; determining, if there is one and only one said operatingobject, whether the operating object has performed a touch controlaction on the touchpad; and defining a control window frame on a screenand calculating, according to coordinates of the operating object on thetouchpad and a second set of ratios, corresponding first coordinates ofthe operating object in the control window frame, if the operatingobject has performed the touch control action on the touchpad.
 25. Themethod of claim 24, further comprising a step of generating a virtualtouch control element at the first coordinates if the touch controlaction is double clicking.
 26. The method of claim 24, wherein thesecond set of ratios are a width ratio and a height ratio between thecontrol window frame and the touchpad.
 27. The method of claim 25,further comprising a step of using a position of a said virtual touchcontrol element or cursor last appearing on the screen as a referencecoordinate position and mapping the first coordinates in the controlwindow frame to the reference coordinate position so as to define aposition of the control window frame on the screen.
 28. The Method ofclaim 25, further comprising a step of detecting whether the operatingobject has displaced on the touchpad after the virtual touch controlelement is generated, and executing a window page switching instructionaccording to the displacement by the virtual touch control element if adisplacement of the operating object on the touchpad is detected.